Bismarck weekly tribune., 1887-09-23

uAo SlSuU uAe1Ly yShIS ago ny EeAC0SSlf0 WOrk
in and out of season. His deafness is due to
an accident that occurred when he was q
boy. He was coasting on New England
hill one cold day in his youth, when his sled
plunged through the ice and landed him in
frozen river. He was rescued more dead
than alive, and though finally resucitated
the experience lost him his sense of bearing.
He is 70 years of age, as hale and hearty az
many man of 35-with the exception, Of
course, of the Affections noted-has made q
handsome fortune, and is one of the solid men
of the Cream city. A half century ago Mr..
Cramer was a New York journalist,
u member of that brilliant group
that had for its central figure the
late Thurlow Weed who was s. warm
friend and great admirer Of the young man
who was then preparing to invade the far
northwest to seek his fortune Horace
Greeley and Raymond, of the old Times, were
also intimates of Mr.. Cramer, end he tells
many interesting anecdotes and "reminiscences
of them and of other of the old time Journal
lists who have long since passed over to ''the
silent city,
The range of this mans information is
something to be wondered at. He is regu-
lar perambulating encyclopedia, and he can
answer almost any question relating to the
political or other important events of the
past century at moments notice. The
memory of "Uncle Billy" as nearly all Mil
waukeeans call him, is something marvellous.
When fact is caught by the complicated
machinery of his brain it is held where the i'm
palpable dust of ages cannot reach it. His
library is large and we'll selected. Among
other rare things it is said to contain every
printed record of the proceedings of congress.
The contents of the congressional record from
volume to the last issue are at his tongues
end, and he can tell the date, page or para
graph of any important event that has been
chronicled in this cheerful and breezy publi-
cation since it was first started His infirm-
tiles have, if anything, sharpened or quick
ened his naturally bright intellect, and he is
today one of the very remarkable journalists
of this country. A blind and deaf man at
the head of big newspaper is Journalistic
novelty indeed. All of the leading papers of
the country are Systematically read to Mr..
Cramer every day by his secretary. The
range OF his information extends to khe re-
motest corner of the telegraphic page Of the
latest issues of the metropolitan dailies.
Mr.. Cramer was born at Waterford, Sara
toga county, N. Y, Oct. II, 1877 He was grad
uated at Union college and there studied law.
He began his first newspaper work on the old
Albany IN. " Argus in 1S43 In 1S47 he
came to Milwaukee and purchased the paper
which lie has continuously edited ever since
He has seen his adopted city grow from u
struggling town with few thonand iphab-
itants to the important place it NOW occupies
among the leading cit es of the country. In
his time ne has seen the newspapers change
from the laborious old Washington and
Epa a,,1y1 hoy 49,
chimes that can now grind out papers at the
rate Of a Thousand copies minute. ~,
Mr.. Cramer's career has not been without
thrilling and memorable incidents He was
in Europe during the Franco Prussian war
and was caught in Paris during its memora-
BILE siege. He lived ON mule meat and suffered
many hardships until the capitulation Of the
city. When that famous old hotel, the i'll
fated Newhall mouse, was erected in this city
about thirty years ago, Mr.. Cramer was the
first regular boarder He continued to live
at this house until its destruction by fire on
that terrible morning Of Jan. 10, 1884, when
lOOpeople were roasted to death by the catas-
trophe. Mr. Cramer was one of the last to
leave the house, and he escaped more dead
than alive. His apartments were entirely
surrounded by flames when he was aroused,
With his wife, he attempted to find his way
out Of the roaring furnace. Both were in
their night clothes, which were nearly burned
OF of them. The marble tiling in
the halls was SO hot that the flesh was fairly
roasted on their feet as they passed over
them. They groped around until they were
finally rescued, both in fainting condition
and SO horribly burned that it was feared for
q long time neither could recover. The great
building collapsed moment after they were
out. After long siege both recovered, but
their escape was next to miraculous. BY this
terrible fire the works of art, fine private
library and the odds and ends which had
been collected during Mr.. Cramer's busy life
were entirely destroyed, together with many
valuables Of various kinds and all Of Mrs.
Cramer's valuable diamonds.
Two years ago Mr.. Cramer paid second
visit to Paris, and while there sat for a por.
trait by Healy, the celebrated painter. The
portrait give with this sketch Is made from
. photograph Of ths Henly picture.
q. II. YENowINE.